Jeremías 10

1 Oíd la palabra que el SEÑOR os habla, oh casa de Israel.

2 Así dice el SEÑOR: El camino de las naciones no aprendáis, ni de las señales de los cielos os aterroricéis, aunque las naciones les tengan terror.

3 Porque las costumbres de los pueblos son vanidad; pues un leño del bosque es cortado, lo trabajan las manos de un artífice con la azuela;

4 con plata y oro lo adornan, con clavos y martillos lo aseguran para que no se mueva.

5 Como los espantapájaros de un pepinar, sus ídolos no hablan; tienen que ser transportados, porque no andan. No les tengáis miedo, porque no pueden hacer mal, ni tampoco hacer bien alguno.

6 No hay nadie como tú, oh SEÑOR; grande eres tú, y grande es tu nombre en poderío.

7 ¿Quién no te temerá, oh Rey de las naciones? Porque esto se te debe. Porque entre todos los sabios de las naciones, y en todos sus reinos, no hay nadie como tú.

8 Mas ellos a una son torpes y necios en su enseñanza de vanidades, pues su ídolo es un leño.

9 Plata laminada es traída de Tarsis y oro de Ufaz, obra del artífice y de manos del orfebre; su vestido es de violeta y púrpura; todo ello obra de peritos.

10 Pero el SEÑOR es el Dios verdadero; El es el Dios vivo y el Rey eterno. Ante su enojo tiembla la tierra, y las naciones son impotentes ante su indignación.

11 Así les diréis: Los dioses que no hicieron los cielos ni la tierra, perecerán de la tierra y de debajo de los cielos.

12 El es el que hizo la tierra con su poder, el que estableció el mundo con su sabiduría, y con su inteligencia extendió los cielos.

13 Cuando El emite su voz, hay estruendo de aguas en los cielos; El hace subir las nubes desde los extremos de la tierra, hace los relámpagos para la lluvia y saca el viento de sus depósitos.

14 Todo hombre es torpe, falto de conocimiento; todo orfebre se averguenza de su ídolo; porque engañosas son sus imágenes fundidas, y no hay aliento en ellas.

15 Vanidad son, obra ridícula, en el tiempo de su castigo perecerán.

16 No es como ésta la porción de Jacob; porque El es el Hacedor de todo, e Israel es la tribu de su heredad; el SEÑOR de los ejércitos es su nombre.

17 Recoge del suelo tus pertenencias, tú que moras sitiada.

18 Porque así dice el SEÑOR: He aquí, en esta ocasión, tiro con honda a los habitantes de la tierra, y los afligiré para que me puedan hallar.

19 ¡Ay de mí, por mi quebranto! Mi herida es incurable. Mas yo me dije: De cierto esta es una enfermedad, y debo soportarla.

20 Mi tienda ha sido destruida, y todas mis cuerdas rotas; mis hijos me han abandonado y no queda ninguno. No hay quien plante de nuevo mi tienda ni coloque mis cortinas.

21 Porque los pastores se han entorpecido y no han buscado al SEÑOR; por tanto, no prosperaron, y todo su rebaño se ha dispersado.

22 ¡Se oye un rumor! He aquí, viene una gran conmoción desde la tierra del norte, para convertir las ciudades de Judá en desolación, en guarida de chacales.

23 Yo sé, oh SEÑOR, que no depende del hombre su camino, ni de quien anda el dirigir sus pasos.

24 Repréndeme, oh SEÑOR, pero con justicia, no con tu ira, no sea que me reduzcas a nada.

25 Derrama furor sobre las naciones que no te conocen, y sobre los linajes que no invocan tu nombre; porque han devorado a Jacob, lo han devorado y lo han consumido, y han asolado su morada.

Jeremías 10 Commentary

Chapter 10

The absurdity of idolatry. (1-16) Destruction denounced against Jerusalem. (17-25)

Verses 1-16 The prophet shows the glory of Israel's God, and exposes the folly of idolaters. Charms and other attempts to obtain supernatural help, or to pry into futurity, are copied from the wicked customs of the heathen. Let us stand in awe, and not dare provoke God, by giving that glory to another which is due to him alone. He is ready to forgive, and save all who repent and believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ. Faith learns these blessed truths from the word of God; but all knowledge not from that source, leads to doctrines of vanity.

Verses 17-25 The Jews who continued in their own land, felt secure. But, sooner or later, sinners will find all things as the word of God has declared, and that its threatenings are not empty terrors. Submission will support the believer under every grief allotted to him; but what can render the load of Divine vengeance easy to be borne by those who fall under it in sullen despair? Those cannot expect to prosper, who do not, by faith and prayer, take God with them in all their ways. The report of the enemy's approach was very dreadful. Yet the designs which men lay deep, and think well formed, are dashed to pieces in a moment. Events are often overruled, so as to be quite contrary to what we intended and expected. If the Lord has directed our steps into the ways of peace and righteousness, let us entreat him to enable us to walk therein. Say not, Lord, do not correct me; but, Lord, do not correct me in anger. We may bear the smart of God's rod, but we cannot bear the weight of his wrath. Those who restrain prayer, prove that they know not God; for those who know him will seek him, and seek his favour. If even severe corrections lead sinners to be convinced of wholesome truths, they will have abundant cause for gratitude. And they will then humble themselves before the Lord.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 10

This chapter shows that there is no comparison to be made between God and the idols of the Gentiles; represents the destruction of the Jews as near at hand; and is closed with some petitions of the prophet. It begins by way of preface with an exhortation to hear the word of the Lord, and a dehortation not to learn the way of the Heathens, or be dismayed at their signs, since their customs were in vain, Jer 10:1-3 which lead on to expose their idols, and set forth the greatness and glory of God. Their idols are described by the matter and makers of them, Jer 10:3,4,9 and from their impotence to speak, to stand, to move, or do either good or evil, Jer 10:4,5, but, on the other hand, God is described by the greatness of his name and power, and by the reverence that belongs unto him; in comparison of whom all the wise men of the nations are brutish, foolish, and vain, Jer 10:6-8, by the epithets of true, living, and everlasting, and by the terribleness of his wrath, Jer 10:10, by his power and wisdom, in making the heavens and the earth, in causing thunder and lightning, wind and rain, when the gods that have no share in these shall utterly perish, Jer 10:11-13 their makers being brutish, and brought to shame; and they falsehood and breathless vanity, the work of errors, and so shall come to ruin, Jer 10:14,15, but he, who is Jacob's portion, and whose inheritance Israel is, is not like them; being the former of all things, and his name the Lord of hosts, Jer 10:16 and next follows a prophecy of the destruction of the Jews; wherefore they are bid to gather up their wares, since in a very little time, and at once, the Lord would fling them out of the land, and bring them into distress, Jer 10:17,18, upon which the prophet expresses his sympathy with his people in trouble, and the part of grief he took and bore with them, Jer 10:19, the particulars of his distress, through the desolation of the land, and the captivity of the people, with the cause and authors of it, by whose means these things were brought upon them, are mentioned, Jer 10:20,21, and the Chaldean army, the instruments of their ruin, are represented as just at hand, Jer 10:22, when the prophet, directing himself to God, acknowledges the impotence of man in general to help and guide himself, deprecates correction in anger to himself in particular, and prays that the wrath of God might be poured down upon the Heathens, by whom his people were devoured, consumed, and made desolate, Jer 10:23-25.